Doing Deeds Constantly

Aishah (radi Allahu anha) reported that The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) came in when a woman was sitting beside me. He asked me, “Who is she?” I said: “She is the one whose performance of prayer has become the talk of the town.” Addressing her, he (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “(What is this!) You are required to take upon yourselves only what you can carry out easily. By Allah, Allah does not withhold His Mercy and forgiveness of you until you neglect and give up (good works). Allah likes the deeds best which a worshipper can carry out constantly.”

[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Commentary:

1. This Hadith prohibits worship beyond one’s capacity lest one gets tired and stops it altogether. One should be, therefore, moderate in this respect.

2. Allah likes that good action which is done regularly, even if it is a small one. Any good deed which is done continuously, will also have an everlasting reward. On the contrary, a good deed which is done for a short period will have a short return.